Lovely Things By Others!

Red Riding Hood brooch by Miss Marple Makes

I'm always thrilled when I sell my work and rest assured lovely buyers, the money goes towards new materials, occasionally to the dentist (ie for the small but expensive filling last week) and to another great by-product of buying from a local artist/shop, to other artists! While pretty things spied on the internet & in magazines etc are continually tempting, I feel that my purchases help, in a very modest way, to contribute to the local economy and supporting other makers & artists (it's a good justification I employ!). Apparently a fairly high percentage of handmade items are bought by other designer/makers, which does make some sense.

I'd like to share with you three lovely jewellery items I've bought recently, all by local makers in North Wales (their products are available on-line too though for you more urban/ Non-Wales types). I've been fans of all of them for some time and much coveting of their products goes on. Also, they are all very approachable and will chat enthusiastically about their makes and inspirations.

First, this very sweet ceramic Red Riding Hood brooch by Miss Marple Makes. You can browse through her colourful ceramic wares on https://www.facebook.com/missmarplemakes and the Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/missmarplemakes

Tea pendant by Twinkle & Gloom

Next, an endearing pendant made of of 'sea pottery' by talented artist Twinkle & Gloom. I always gravitate towards any tea-themed things so this was too perfect to ignore.
You can rifle through her Tatty Trunk of Things at http://www.twinkleandgloom.com/ and http://folksy.com/shops/twinkleandgloomart

Finally, I treated myself to this little piece of loveliness, a wooden Hwyl brooch by Dyfal Donc. Hwyl means 'fun' and/or 'goodbye' in Welsh and you hear it used both ways all the time. This partnership creates English and Welsh badges, cards and accessorises from "vintage paper ephemera, found old photos, paint and just about anything else we can re-use/up-cycle... we source our images from old encyclopedia, science, biology, nature books from the 50′s, 60′s, 70′s and 80′s" http://www.dyfaldonc.com/
You can meet them at the next Crefft Cyfoes Caernarfon craft fair on Saturday 6th! https://www.facebook.Crefft-Cyfoes-Caernarfon

Hwyl brooch by Dyfal Donc

Comments

Joyfully Geeky Crochet- Creating a TARDIS

Creating a TARDIS (correctly using capitals now after previous admonishments by my pedantic husband) has, I can confidently declare, been my second favourite present make ever (only bested by a crocheted honeycomb frame made for my bee-keeping mother). It may indeed have a wibbly-wobbly roof (angle of the above picture is flattering!), cheerfully wandering letters on the 'police box' signs and a tendency towards a leaning base, but I am sadly very proud of my little blue box. Part of the pleasure definitely comes from anticipating the look on my brilliant Dr Who-loving friend's face as he opens the box it's travelled north in. Concerned about any misunderstanding, I've taped an 'it's not shoes!' note to the top so as to avoid even momentarily confusion when presented with a peppermint green Clarkes box. Once he fights his way through the swathes of bubble wrap (it was a big box), he'll be the wondrous owner of this mini delight. I'm thrille...

(Anatomical) Love Is In the Air!

Crochet Anatomical Hearts by Lost In The Wood February has been set aside for a much needed catch up with the paperwork (dull but essential), a move into my new cute little studio (exciting), finishing commissions (overdue) and an exhibition piece (satisfying). However, I was a very busy little bee in January, working on some new anatomical designs (which will be a key focus for my work this year). I've started with hearts, the most appropriate bodily organ for this time of year and one of the most interesting to crochet with all it's ventricles, veins and arteries. I'm not claiming these are anatomically correct (no student of biology/ physiology should look to these as learning aids or we're all done for) but they make a reasonable attempt. Intended as large wall pieces, hang them as statement art works or nestle a smaller one under a bell jar and let them be brazen about their well crafted weirdness! They have been hanging splendidly in the Lotti & W...

Tension at Christmas (of a different kind)

Hello, hope you have all had a splendid Christmas! Mine was very lovely indeed as I've been enjoying a week in my home town of Edinburgh with the delights of spending time with family & friends, delicious home cooked food, planning crafty & arty makes for 2013, dangerous trips to Hobbycraft (find it hard to retain spending control) and seeking inspiration in my new book of Grimm Tales (by Philip Pullman) . While there's been a remarkable absence of tension in our household this festive season, there has been tension of other kind (please be generous & excuse the pun). I've been told that my crocheting is very neat which sounds like an unequivocally good thing but others have warned that my tension is too tight. While I've not been at all concerned about this, I do realise that attempts to crochet something larger than my small creatures/ foods and which require to be a more specific size, ie a piece of clothing, are likely to come out far smaller than in...

Lost in the Wood

Search This Blog